WoTS parrot takes flight: Contecto and Comdes Components about the gadget case

The trade fair gadget of the World of Technology & Science 2022 is an electronic parrot. There is an entire team behind the design, development and production of the WoTS parrot. In this article you can read about the contributions of Contact (status: 9C093) and Comdes Components (status: 9B064). These two companies were jointly responsible for the gadget's plexiglass housing: an indispensable part of the striking appearance of the gadget parrot. Comdes also supplied the RFID readers for the unlock of the effects.

Would you like to qualify for the gadget? Register now for a free visit to the trade fair

No classic plastic housing is used for the WoTS parrot, but plexiglass was chosen. Company Contact from Boxmeer constructed transparent plates that make the electronics in the gadget visible and protect them at the same time.  

What is plexiglass
Contrary to what the name suggests, plexiglass is made of transparent plastic. The big advantage of plexiglass is that it transmits more light and is up to 25 times stronger than glass. The latter is very important at a fair where 'sustainability' is one of the central themes.

The material is also very flexible. A portal milling machine mills the plexiglass plates for the gadget exactly to size from a huge sheet of two by three meters. There is a milling drill in the head of the machine. The device systematically moves over the plate to mill the correct holes at the preset positions. These positions are pre-programmed by our mechanics specialist. 

Shockproof
Despite the fact that it is a one-off production, the electronics in the gadget must meet the same strict EMC shock safety guidelines as other consumer devices. The owner of the gadget may experience an electric shock during use. The current flowing through the device must end up in the right place. Plexiglass is sturdy and shockproof enough to serve as a housing and can be supplied in all colors of the rainbow. The makers of the gadget chose yellow material because it contrasts nicely with the black-green of the parrot's 'feathers' and the gold edge at the top.

Enough space
The plexiglass cannot be attached directly to the PCB plate. There must be sufficient space between the components and the housing so that the operation of the electronics is not disrupted. Comdes Components has a spacer supplied that the user must click into four holes at the end of the PCB plate and on which the plexiglass plate is then attached. This creates a space of a few millimeters between the plexiglass and the PCB plate. Those few millimeters are important for the safety and correct functioning of the device.

Unique

It is unique that the user of the gadget looks at the components from the back, because normally this is only possible when you unscrew a device. WoTS visitors will soon be able to click the gadget together themselves on the exhibition floor, including the plexiglass and the spacers. The various components are available at the stands of the exhibitors participating in the project. When the gadget is ready, it must be activated wirelessly on the activation plate that you will find on stands that have an RFID reader. This device is also produced and developed by Comdes Components.

Would you like to have the 'parrot' yourself?

The WoTS organization had 1,500 copies of the interactive parrot made. If you would like to have one, we recommend that you register for the fair today. There is great interest in the gadget and we know from experience that stocks quickly run out.

Register for WoTS today for free 2022 so that you will soon be the proud owner of the one and only WoTS parrot!